David Haye's boxing career may already be over as he faces retirement due to a shoulder injury.
The Londoner's dreams of regaining the heavyweight title were scuppered when he pulled out of his 8 February fight with Tyson Fury.
And following an unsuccessful operation last week, the 33-year-old appears to have fought his last bout.
Haye posted a picture of himself lying in hospital after surgery
"It's a crushing blow for me," he said.
"I had big plans for next year and the ultimate goal was to win back the world heavyweight title, something my amazing fans deserve.
"What I didn't anticipate was that this year would be the unluckiest of my career and that a number of injuries would disrupt my plans so much.
"Perhaps it just wasn't meant to be. The boxing gods keep hinting that maybe enough is enough and that it's time to finally hang up my gloves."
The former WBA champion underwent a five-hour operation to reconstruct his right shoulder in Germany on Thursday but has been told to "seriously consider" retiring, according to a statement from his Hayemaker Promotions company.
"I genuinely believed the shoulder injury wasn't that bad," said the 33-year-old.
"But the doctor sent me for a detailed MRI scan and within 24 hours I was told the full extent of the damage.
"Twenty-four hours after that I was in the operating theatre."
Haye achieved his childhood ambition of claiming a portion of the so-called "richest prize in sport" by dethroning giant WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev in Germany in 2009.